India will step onto a prominent global defence platform this weekend as Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth is set to lead a high-level delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the third World Defence Show (WDS) 2026, scheduled for February 08-09.
The biennial exhibition is expected to draw more than 700 exhibitors and about 400 official delegations, underscoring its growing stature in the international defence calendar.
India’s delegation will include senior officers from the Department of Defence Production as well as representatives of the Armed Forces, signalling a coordinated push to present the country’s evolving military-industrial strength.
A key highlight of India’s participation will be the inauguration of the country’s first-ever India Pavilion, spread across 400 square meters.
The pavilion is designed to project India’s expanding indigenous defence manufacturing and technological capabilities at a time when New Delhi continues to emphasise self-reliance in strategic sectors.
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Prominent public sector defence enterprises – Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited, Munitions India Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, India Optel Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, and Yantra India Limited – will showcase a range of platforms and systems, including tanks, artillery gun systems, missiles, ammunition, and radars.
The visit is also expected to carry diplomatic weight.
A bilateral meeting between the MoS Defence and his Saudi Arabian counterpart is planned on the sidelines of the event, alongside interactions with leading Saudi industry bodies aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and expanding avenues for industrial collaboration between the two countries.
Hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the World Defence Show has emerged as an important venue for countries seeking to demonstrate advanced technologies and forge international partnerships.
For India, the event offers an opportunity to spotlight its indigenisation initiatives and manufacturing depth while positioning its defence industry more firmly within the global defence ecosystem.
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